Frullania inflata Gottsche
Family: Frullaniaceae
Synonyms
none regionally
NatureServe Conservation Status
G5
Distribution
Europe. North America. The North American distribution will be clarified by Atwood (FNA vol. 29, in prep.).
Habitat
On bark of various trees in humid stream ravines and dry oak-hickory forests. Occurrences on rock are common. Apparently a lowland species with scattered known occurrences in the Southern Appalachians.
Brief Description and Tips for Identification
Shoot width: to 1 mm. Color: green to brownish Cell walls in leaf lobe: without intermediate thickenings. Dorsal lobe insertion: truncate. Lobules: about as wide as long when inflated.
Monoicous. Perianth surface without turbercles; perianth with supplementary keels dorsally and ventrally
Two entities Schuster (1992) considered to be synonymous with F. inflata, F. rappii (large trigones), and F. saxicoloa (perianth mouth occluded by papillae), will be recognized as distinct species by Atwood (FNA vol. 29, in prep.). Neither taxon is yet known from the Southern Appalachians.
Salient Features
- Monoicous
- Cell walls of leaf lobe lacking intermediate thickenings, trigones small
- Lobules often explanate
- Peianths with well developed supplementary dorsal and ventral keels
A very frequent species in the southeastern U.S. but not well known from the Southern Appalachians where it appears restricted to lower elevations.
Habitat
Frullania inflata
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Frullania inflata
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Frullania inflata
Habit
Frullania inflata
Dry plants with several dehished capsules
Frullania inflata
Dry plants
Frullania inflata
A hydrated seta and dehisced capsule extend from an obscurred perianth
Habit
Frullania inflata
Perianths of F. inflata are marked with an "i" in red; those of F. virginica with a blue "v". Tubercles on perianths of F. virginica impart a "bumpiness" that is detectable (most of the time) at low magnification. The two species are often found together.
Morphology
Frullania inflata
The female branch has not developed a perianth but is still recognizable as female due to surrounding leaves (bracts) that are slightly modified. When in doubt, one should dissect the branch tip and search for arcegonia.
Frullania inflata
Male branch is relatively close to the female branch
Frullania inflata
Ventral view showing both inflated and explanate lobules
Morphology
Frullania inflata
Monoicous with explanate lobules
Frullania inflata
Ventral view
Frullania inflata
Monoicous with inflated lobules
Morphology
Frullania inflata
Cells of leaf lobe
Frullania inflata
Cells of leaf lobe, note small trigones and lack of intermediate wall thickenings
Frullania inflata
Cells of leaf lobe